SOLDIER Craig Thomson was looking forward to a holiday in the sun on leave from

The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Craig, a lance corporal, booked a break to Egypt for him and girlfriend Kimberley Adam.

But his Army leave was cancelled when he was drafted in to cover the Olympic Games. Now his travel insurer won’t refund the £1318 he paid.

Kimberley, 19, said: “We’re devastated at missing out. What’s the point of travel insurance when it doesn’t pay in genuine circumstances?”

The couple, of Harthill, Lanarkshire, booked a week in Sharm el-Sheikh.

They took out insurance with Essential Travel, 11 days before they were due to depart.

But Craig, 22, who has been with the air assault infantry battalion 5 Scots for two years and has served in Afghanistan, was told his leave was cancelled. Kimberley said: “There was nothing we could do about it.”

She called the travel company to ask them to postpone the holiday but, due to the short notice, they couldn’t help.

The couple contacted Essential Travel and sent a claim form with a letter from Craig’s commanding officer. But the insurer refused to pay.

Kimberley Adam

Kimberley said: “Craig puts his life on the line. It’s ridiculous.”

I got on to Essential Travel but they stuck to their guns.

They claimed Craig knew his leave was being cancelled before the insurance was purchased, which the couple deny.

The insurer said: “The public announcement on Army leave being cancelled was made the day before they purchased their insurance and it is believed known internally prior to this.

“As the policy was purchased after the announcement, it was in the knowledge of a potential and likely claim.”

But the MoD say there was no blanket ban on leave – particular sections were told individually.

The couple are taking their case to the Ombudsman. But the good news is, the MoD will compensate Craig as he was deployed at such short notice.